Nicole Draper
APH 2010









Harcourt/SEL writing prompts


Grade 2
Erica Monkelien
October 2009

1B
Alike but different

Introduction
After reading the book This is My House by Arthur Dorros we talked about the different houses and places that people live. Then we branched out to talk about the different places that the students lived in the classroom. Which somehow brought up the topic of other things that are different. We started to talk about different skin colors and how even if we have different skin color we may or may not have the same eye color.

Assignment
The class’ assignment was to color two 3x3 white squares to match their skin color and two 1 ½ x 1 ½ white squares to match their eye color. When the students finished coloring their squares, together we turned it into one single person with a blend of all the student’s skin color and eye color.

Closing
After the squares were completed, we as a class created a mural of a face using the larger squares and using the smaller squares to create the two eyes. Then we had a class discussion about treating each other with respect no matter what shape, color or size.


Grade 2
Erica Monkelien
December 2009

4A-Positive Communication
Story Telling

Introduction
This is a project that was done with our big buddies. Both teachers read the book Ish by Peter Reynolds with our class and then had them draw a picture of anything they wanted. They then had to develop a title for their work with ish at the end. (For example, vasish, flowerish, buggish, etc. ) This enabled the students to build their self-confidence about their drawing ability if they do think they do it well. After students have finished drawing their picture have them show the rest of the class.

Assignment
Since both classes have read the book Ish, allow time for the two classes to get together. The big buddies are going to illustrate the little buddy’s life story. The little buddy tells the big buddy the important things that have happened to them while the big buddy draws pictures of what they say. If the big buddy forgot to add something to the story then the little buddy was allowed to add details after they had finished telling their story.

Closing
The big buddies were then supposes to retell the little buddy’s story in their own words. Once they have finished that they reverse the roles so that the little buddy is drawing the story of the big buddy and then retelling their story.